Objectives:The aim of this study was to establish cleft lip and palate patients characteristics in the city of Maringa and area, analyzing the prevalence of cleft types, frequency of involved malocclusions, as well as affected gender. Methods:The sample was composed of 306 regularly registered patients in AFIM (Association of Support to the Cleft Lip and Palate Patient of Maringá - PR - Brazil), from the handbooks analysis of the archive. Results: The results showed that 47 (15,36%) patients were carrying isolated cleft of the palate; 30 (9,8%) with unilateral left cleft lip and 30 (9,8%) with unilateral right cleft lip; 84 (27,45%) with complete unilateral left cleft lip and palate; 55 (17,97%) with complete unilateral right cleft lip and palate; 49 (16,02%) with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate; 7 (2,29%) with bilateral cleft lip and only 4 (1,31%) carrying one of the other types of cleft classified by SPINA (1972) as rare clefts of the face. The class III malocclusion was found in 58 (57%) patients; 24 (23%) were class II and 20 (20%) were class I. Amongst all the patients 66.66% were carrying posterior cross-bite. Conclusions:It was concluded that complete cleft lip and palate ocurred with highest frequency, being the complete unilateral left cleft lip and palate the most common of all types of clefts (27,45%), affecting predominantly males (58%), followed by clefts on the right side (17,97%). Considering the isolated clefts of the palate, a predilection for the female gender was observed (70%).